Chapter 3: The Angel’s Touch

Hunter Association Headquarters.

“Have you found Zz’s whereabouts yet?”

“Are you referring to Double Z? Not yet.”

“The top S-rank hunters are returning. Let’s prioritize handling that first…”

“Are you out of your mind? Do you even understand priorities?

This is an awakened individual who soloed a World Boss! We must secure them first, no matter what!”

Sure, you say to treat the top hunters well, but now this?

Such was the plight of the civil servants.

Superiors were breathing down their necks to find the MVP.
Citizens were lambasting them for spending exorbitant funds on gate prediction systems that failed to perform.
The media and the public grew more critical by the day.

The sudden appearance of the World Boss, Colossus, in the heart of Seoul had plunged the nation into an unprecedented crisis.

“How do you expect us to find someone who has gone into hiding without a single lead?”

“Exactly. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, especially if they’re just sleeping at home.”

“Meanwhile, they also expect us to locate the missing S-rank #1 and #2. The workload is overwhelming.”

“Right? This isn’t some private detective agency.”

“No matter how great the salary and benefits, the stress is through the roof. Should I just quit?”

“If I had to choose, I’d still stick with the Association.”

“Same here. Senior, maybe you should be the one to resign.”

“…Are you even on the same team?”

The public servants were at their wits’ end.

Even they couldn’t fathom how or why a World Boss had suddenly appeared in the middle of Seoul.

“Are we certain there was no equipment malfunction?”

“We even flew in technicians from foreign associations to cross-check the infrastructure, but no defects were found.”

“Damn it, we’ve got a press conference soon. If you’d at least tracked down Zz’s location, I’d have something to tell the public!”

“…Our apologies.”

“If it weren’t for Zz’s intervention, the damage could’ve been catastrophic.

No matter what, we must find them and ensure they are treated with the utmost respect. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

The Hunter Association’s Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters was in disarray.

Director Yoo let out a deep sigh.

“Zz… If they hadn’t stepped in, things would’ve been truly terrifying.”

Resources were scarce, responsibilities were heavy, and time was running out.

The Association’s disaster prediction system, which had never failed before, had missed the mark entirely, plunging its reputation to new lows.

The country was in chaos, and the Association couldn’t escape accountability.

Had it not been for the intervention of this mysterious figure, the situation might have spiraled beyond salvation.

“Who on earth are they?”

The Director had briefly considered the possibility of Zz being the missing S-rank #1 or #2, but the video evidence quickly dismissed those doubts.

Whatever their ability was, it was excessively dazzling.
A Hunter capable of manipulating light? He’d never heard of such a thing.

“Could a single Hunter really prevent a national disaster?”

In the global arena, only a handful of countries had successfully soloed a World Boss.

World Bosses were typically handled through international cooperation.

But this time, South Korea had managed to single-handedly defeat one,

joining the ranks of Hunter superpowers like the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Russia.

If a neighboring country like China or Japan had intervened, the situation might have turned politically and diplomatically fraught.

“Those bastards would’ve started strutting around obnoxiously. We must find Zz at all costs.”

Thanks to this enigmatic individual, South Korea’s global standing had soared overnight.

This person was nothing short of a national hero.

Just then, the door creaked open.

A procession of South Korea’s elite S-rank Hunters entered, one by one.

Each name among them was widely recognized.

These were the country’s top-tier Hunters, a sight rarely seen outside of South Korea.

Sudden awakenings that bestowed immense power often led to individuals forming guilds for their benefit or worse, becoming villains.

Centralized control of such awakened individuals was virtually impossible in most nations due to the lack of realistic enforcement mechanisms.

But South Korea was different.

After all, Koreans are a people with a 5,000-year history of unity and resilience in the face of adversity.

And in moments of crisis, they excelled at banding together.

All awakened individuals were managed under a single organization: the Hunter Association.

“Well, the fact that the President herself awakened as an S-rank played a big part in that.”

Regardless, the Hunter Association of South Korea had achieved what no other country could: integrating all awakened individuals into one cohesive system.

The elite S-rank Hunters standing before him were the embodiment of that system.

“Have you identified Zz, Director?”

The question came from Cheonma, ranked fifth among S-rank Hunters, known for possessing the S-rank skill Heavenly Demon Arts.

“No. Weren’t you on the scene? I assumed you might have some clues.”

“We couldn’t grasp the situation either. All we heard was a loud noise, and then everything was over in an instant.”

“…Not very helpful.”

“Don’t be too harsh. We did rush back to close the gates for the World Boss raid.”

“Enough chatter. Having S-rank Hunters gathered in one place like this is a waste of manpower. Return to your posts.”

“If you find anything, be sure to share it with us.”

The S-rank Hunters, more than anyone, were burning with curiosity about Zz’s identity.

Hunters like Cheonma, Min Hayul, and Han Jinseong lingered in the Association instead of heading back to their territories, hoping they might uncover something.

A person with such overwhelming power wouldn’t be a newly awakened rookie.

It was more likely someone who had been honing their skills and amassing strength since the early days of the Great Cataclysm.

But why had they only revealed themselves now? The mystery gnawed at them.

“I’d like to meet Zz in person someday,” Cheonma murmured, her crimson eyes glinting mischievously.

Ranked 5th among S-rank Hunters, Cheonma whose real name was Cheon Yeowool—headed back home.

Despite gates opening and World Bosses appearing across the nation, the crisis had been resolved without significant casualties.

Seoul’s night was once again tranquil, with its citizens returning to their daily lives.

But then, she abruptly halted in her tracks, lowering her gaze.

A flicker of movement caught her eye. Shadows shifted unnaturally.

Squinting, she tried to discern the form, but her vision grew progressively blurrier.

“Huh? It’s happening again?”

A wave of anxiety washed over her.

The condition she had experienced occasionally was returning.

The world blurred.

“Heavenly Demon Arts…”

While her skill, Heavenly Demon Arts, granted her immense power, it came at a steep cost.

Her eyesight was deteriorating.

Her glowing red eyes were the most apparent symptom of the toll her power exacted.

Without a proper method to balance the immense demonic energy coursing through her body, her very being was slowly being corroded.

The first sacrifice had been her vision.

“Every time this happens, it’s so frustrating… Will it last a week this time?”

She sighed deeply.

Perhaps it was the strain from dealing with back-to-back gates and World Bosses, but her condition was worsening.

“What’s the use of the Heavenly Demon Arts… If I go blind, it’s all pointless.”

Cheon Yeowool shut her eyes tightly before reopening them, but the hazy gray tint clouding her vision remained.

Letting out another deep breath, she activated her sensory field, a skill she’d honed to navigate such situations.

Though not perfect, it was effective in compensating for her loss of sight.

Suddenly, she sensed a faint presence nearby—a small lifeform close to her feet.

‘What’s this?’

The subtle energy signature of the being piqued her curiosity. Carefully, she bent down, reaching out with her hand.

Her fingertips brushed against something soft.

Exploring further, she felt warmth emanating from the object despite the chilly air.

“A person…?”

Finally, she realized it was a human a small girl. But her blurred vision prevented her from seeing the child’s face.

Instead, she gently ran her fingers through the child’s hair, tangled and matted with dirt and dust.

“Are you alive? Oh… You’re just sleeping, aren’t you? Are you okay?”

“Hmnya… Zz…”

The child’s soft breathing broke the silence.

At first, Cheon Yeowool thought she had stumbled upon a corpse, but it took her a moment to realize the girl was merely in a deep sleep.

How could anyone sleep so soundly almost as if they were dead in such a dangerous place?

Especially since this area had recently been the site of a World Boss appearance.

“Zzz…”

“Why are you sleeping out here, of all places?”

What circumstances could lead a young girl to fall asleep alone, outdoors?

Her breathing was steady, her skin warm. There didn’t appear to be any injuries.

‘Drunk? No… that doesn’t make sense.’

The girl’s petite frame made it clear she couldn’t possibly be an adult. She seemed more like a middle schooler.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but I should call the authorities.”

Just as Cheon Yeowool reached for her phone, a rough voice called out from behind her.

“Hey, miss. Come here for a second.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah, you. I said, come here, now. You deaf or something?”

Some people had an unmistakable aura of menace. This man exuded such vibes—a typical creep.

Cheon Yeowool narrowed her eyes, her irritation barely concealed.

Did this psycho really just pick a fight with me?

It was absurd.

One move from her Heavenly Demon’s Domination Step would turn this fool into a charred pancake.

The situation was so ridiculous that it was almost laughable.

Cheon Yeowool saw no need to showcase her strength or create unnecessary conflict.

Calmly, she said, “Sir, if you’ve had too much to drink, just go home. I’m a Hunter.”

“Ah… I-I’m sorry. I must’ve been drunk…”

The man stammered an apology before stumbling away, thoroughly humbled.

Cheon Yeowool returned her gaze to the girl at her feet.

“Zz…”

Though handing the girl over to the police seemed like the right thing to do,

she couldn’t bring herself to leave the child in a place where suspicious individuals lingered.

And so, she decided to bring her home.

It felt like a rescue.

“Hnnya?”

The girl stirred, her eyes fluttering open.

A soft, unfamiliar warmth enveloped her body.

Wrapped snugly in a blanket, she slowly glanced around.

A bed.

She stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, then hugged the pillow tightly, mumbling,

“Why is this so incredibly soft? Whoever made this bedding deserves endless pats…”

She buried her face in the pillow, tempted to drift back to sleep.

But she couldn’t ignore her surroundings.

The environment was drastically different from where she’d fallen asleep.

‘I need to figure out what’s going on.’

Still drowsy, she stretched her arms and let out a yawn.

Her muscles loosened, from her shoulders to her fingertips, as if her body were regaining its rhythm.

The tension melted away, leaving her refreshed.

“Wow… so this is the power of sleep. Amazing.”

It was the most restful sleep she’d ever had.

How had she gone through life without realizing how wonderful it was?

“I’ve been missing out. Sleep is so incredible… I could marry it. No, I’d even give up both drumsticks at dinner for this.”

Creak.

Just then, the door opened slightly, and soft footsteps approached.

“I was worried since you were sleeping like the dead. Are you awake?”

The voice was gentle yet firm, prompting her to turn her head.

Standing at the door was a woman with crimson eyes, her arms crossed as she observed her.

“Yes, I’m awake. Did you… save me?”

“Yes. You wouldn’t wake up no matter what, so I was concerned. But now that you’re up, I’m relieved.

You know, lying around all day will make your body stiff.”

“If I end up stiff, I’ll just move around like a zombie.”

“You’re quite the peculiar one,” the woman said, chuckling softly.

She must have imagined the girl hopping around like a zombie and found the image amusing.

“Hmm?”

Their eyes met.

Her crimson eyes were mesmerizing—mysterious and alluring, in stark contrast to her own.

But the girl noticed something strange: the woman didn’t seem to focus directly on her.

Her movements were cautious, as though she was trying to feel her surroundings.

For a moment, her hand grazed the wall, hesitating.

The girl instinctively realized it.

“Can you… not see?”

“Yes,” the woman admitted. “It’s a side effect of a martial art I practiced.”

“Oh… I see.”

The girl paused, deep in thought.

‘I’m an angel, aren’t I?’

Something about this situation gave her the strong sense that she could help.

This woman had saved her from the street and offered her a safe, warm place to rest.

Surely, she was a good person.

In that case, maybe it was time to use her powers.

“Don’t worry, you’ll feel better soon.”

“What?”

“There’s something I can do. Excuse me for a moment.”

Before the woman could respond, the girl focused, allowing her angelic powers to surface.

A faint glow appeared around her, a halo briefly forming above her head, accompanied by delicate wings.

Though the woman didn’t seem to notice, the warmth began to emanate from the girl’s hands, glowing softly with light.